Ella Emhoff, model and official cool kid of the political sphere, has had enough of the rumor mill this week. The 25-year-old, better known as the daughter of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and unofficial stepdaughter to the nation via VP Kamala Harris, decided to shut down some spicy gossip circulating on social media. People were saying she’d had a “mental breakdown” and had checked into a hospital after shedding some tears at her stepmom’s speech.
On Saturday (November 9), Ella took to her Instagram Story—Gen Z’s preferred place for dropping truth bombs—to call out the rumors with enough sass to make her stepmom proud.
“Alright, I’m just gonna say it,” Ella began, delivering her truth with a side of digital eye roll. “People are out here saying I had a mental breakdown and checked into a hospital.” Cue the dramatic music.
“Not true,” she continued, sparing zero filter. “And also, f–k you if you’re out there spreading that.” That’s right—she’s not holding back. Ella pointed out that crying is totally normal. “There’s nothing wrong with showing emotion and crying. Anyone who says there is probably needs a good cry,” she added, handing out mental health advice with the nonchalance of a yoga instructor sipping chamomile tea.
But she didn’t stop there. Ella reminded everyone that her mental health struggles aren’t breaking news, and she’s totally cool with that. “I’ve struggled with my mental health my whole life and I’m not ashamed of it,” she shared. “I’ve literally just been here playing fetch with Jerry.” Yes, Jerry the dog is her current co-star in this social media saga, giving us all the dose of cuteness we didn’t know we needed.
And just in case you needed visual proof of her totally normal and not dramatic weekend, Ella included a mirror selfie of herself and Jerry, looking chill and very much not hospital-bound. Ella 1, Rumor Mill 0.
So, if you’re out there stirring the pot, consider this your sign to take a cue from Ella—get a dog, have a cry, and stop projecting weird stories onto other people’s Instagram stories.
